Topic: KKK and the Kartilya of Katipunan

CONTENT

The Katipunan is born

Andres Bonifacio was also a member of La Liga Filipina, although he soon lost hope in gaining reforms
though peaceful means. This feeling was especially heightened when Jose Rizal was exiled to Dapitan.
Bonifacio became convinced that the only way the Philippines could gain independence was through a
revolution.

Bonifacio then founded the “Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” (KKK)
on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo Manila.

The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a symbol of the member’s loyalty, they performed the solemn rite
of sanduguan (blood compact), wherein each one signed his name with his own blood..

The members agreed to recruit more people using the “triangle system” of enlistment. Each original member
would recruit tow new members who were not related to each other. Each new member would do the same
thing, and so on down the line. Members were also asked to contribute one Real (about 25 centavos) each
month in order to raise funds for the association.

The KKK members agreed on the following objectives:

The political goal was to completely separate the Philippines from Spain after declaring the
country’s independence.
The moral goal was to teach the Filipinos good manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine morals, and how to
guard themselves against religious fanaticism..
The civic goal was to encourage Filipinos to help themselves and to defend the poor oppressed.

The “Kataastaasang Sanggunian” (supreme council) was the highest governing body of the Katipunan. It
was headed by a supremo, or president. Each province had a “Sangguaniang Bayan” (Provincial Council)
and each town had a “Sangguniang Balangay” (Popular Council).

The Leaders of the Katipunan:

 Deodato Arellano -Supremo
Ladislao Diwa -Fiscal
Teodora Plata -Secretary
Valentine Diaz -treasurer
Andres Bonifacio -controller

The Katipunan Code of Conduct

By: Emilio Jacinto

1. The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if not a
poisonous weed.

2. To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue.

3. It is rational to be charitable and love one's fellow creature, and to adjust one's conduct, acts and words
to what is in itself reasonable.

4. Whether our skin be black or white, we are all born equal: superiority in knowledge, wealth and beauty
are to be understood, but not superiority by nature.

5. The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.

6. To the honorable man, his word is sacred.

7. Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost.

8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.

9. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets.

10. On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of woman and the children, and if the guide leads to the
precipice, those whom he guides will also go there.

11. Thou must not look upon woman as a mere plaything, but as a faithful companion who will share with
thee the penalties of life; her (physical) weakness will increase thy interest in her and she will remind thee of
the mother who bore thee and reared thee.

12. What thou dost not desire done unto thy wife, children, brothers and sisters, that do not unto the wife,
children, brothers and sisters of thy neighbor.

13. Man is not worth more because he is a king, because his nose is aquiline, and his color white, not
because he is a *priest, a servant of God, nor because of the high prerogative that he enjoys upon earth, but
he is worth most who is a man of proven and real value, who does good, keeps his words, is worthy and
honest; he who does not oppress nor consent to being oppressed, he who loves and cherishes his
fatherland, though he be born in the wilderness and know no tongue but his own.

14. When these rules of conduct shall be known to all, the longed-for sun of Liberty shall rise brilliant over
this most unhappy portion of the globe and its rays shall diffuse everlasting joy among the confederated
brethren of the same rays, the lives of those who have gone before, the fatigues and the well-paid sufferings
will remain. If he who desires to enter (the Katipunan) has informed himself of all this and believes he will be
able to perform what will be his duties, he may fill out the application for admission.

[translation by Gregorio Nieva, 1918]